Kickstarter Attitudes: Supporting A Board Game Publisher
Posted by Michael Mindes on February 07, 2012
With the arguments about the benefits (or lack thereof) of Kickstarter flying back and forth, I thought I would weigh in on some additional thoughts of my own. Specifically, I want to discuss the attitude of supporting a particular publisher instead of just a particular game. While, supporters are obviously backing a project to get a certain game based on the information provided, in some situations, I think there is an additional underlying psychology to the situation.
In particular, I am thinking of something that I have encountered. Support of a publisher. I have received numerous communications with the projects for Kings of Air and Steam and For The Win, which have gone something like this:
"I really like Belfort, Eminent Domain, Homesteaders, and/or Martian Dice... I like what you are doing as a publisher, and this game looks good, so I am supporting it and you. Thank you and keep making good games."
I think that the underlying concept process behind these actions goes like this:
- Tasty Minstrel Games has made games that I like/love/enjoy before.
- Tasty Minstrel Games has a process under which they put games.
- This game looks like I might like it, so I will support.
- If the game isn't as good as I hope it is, then that is ok, because if Tasty Minstrel Games becomes successful enough to have employees and apply a full-time effort, then they will produce even better games.
If I am right or not, I don't know. What I do know is that the psychology behind this bodes well for me and my company, and I am not going to complain about that!
For this to work out to the long-term benefit of the hobby/industry, then the publishers that get this benefit of the doubt need to honor it. They need to maintain the trust of their fans and customers by continuing to release only quality games.
Right now, it looks like TMG is certainly releasing a large quantity of games, but we have had a large number of finished games just waiting for funding. It is a beauty that Kickstarter has come along!
Cheers,
Michael
